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First-Edition Identification · Adam Johnson

Is My Fortune Smiles a First Edition?

Random House, 2015

The points of issue

Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. Story collection.

Decode the printer’s key: paste the number line into the decoder · Random House first-edition guide.

Is this the true first?

The US Random House hardcover (2015) is the true first; the book won the 2015 National Book Award for Fiction.

Telling it from reprints & book-club editions

No significant book-club issue. Confirm both the stated 'First Edition' and the full number line ending in 1.

Frequently asked questions

Is my copy of Fortune Smiles a first edition?

Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' with the Random House number line 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1; first-issue dust jacket carries the printed retail price. Story collection.

How do I tell the first printing from a later one?

Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The US Random House hardcover (2015) is the true first; the book won the 2015 National Book Award for Fiction.

Is the book-club edition the same as the first?

No significant book-club issue. Confirm both the stated 'First Edition' and the full number line ending in 1.

I have a first edition of Fortune Smiles — what should I do?

If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.

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